Forerunner Software - No Flooding in My Backyard (NFIMBY)

The Increasing Challenges Faced by City Leaders

The role of a mayor is arguably one of the most demanding in the world, and the complexities of urban leadership are only escalating. Despite growing populations in cities globally, the impacts of climate change are restricting the areas suitable for continued expansion. Coastal communities, while attractive to residents, face increasing risks from rising sea levels. Balancing the need for growth with the imperative to protect citizens from potential disasters presents a significant challenge.

A Prioritization of Growth

Frequently, the emphasis is heavily weighted towards growth. Coastal towns often continue to permit extensive development and urban sprawl, prioritizing increased property tax revenue and population numbers, even as sea levels rise. This approach carries substantial risk – a risk that many municipalities are knowingly accepting.

Forerunner: A New Approach to Floodplain Management

Forerunner aims to shift this paradigm. Its platform empowers city planners and building managers to conduct surveys, investigations, and enforce more rigorous building codes and land use regulations. A key focus is mitigating potential flood damage.

The company specifically targets American cities that heavily utilize the federal flood insurance program, assisting them in maximizing compliance with its complex regulations.

Data-Driven Compliance

Forerunner integrates data from FEMA and other sources to ascertain a property’s required lowest floor height and verify its adherence to this standard. It also monitors flood zone boundaries and streamlines the administrative processes associated with federal flood insurance documentation, including the creation and management of elevation certificates.

Origins and Core Beliefs

Co-founders JT White and Susanna Pho, long-time friends and former colleagues at the MIT Media Lab, established Forerunner in early 2019. Pho emphasized that a significant number of communities do not consistently enforce existing federal flood regulations. “They will often revise their ordinances to be less stringent… due to difficulties in maintaining consistent compliance,” she stated.

Addressing Moral Hazard and Promoting Resilience

While federal flood insurance provides a safety net for cities impacted by floods, it can inadvertently create a moral hazard, reducing the incentive to proactively prevent damage. The federal government is working to strengthen these standards, and a growing number of city planners and leaders recognize the need to move away from the cycle of destruction and rebuilding. White articulated a desire to see communities rebuild to higher standards following flood events. “The repetitive cycle of reconstruction and repeating the same mistakes is deeply frustrating to us.”

The Path to Implementation

Implementing a new approach is not without its difficulties. “These communities will face challenging decisions,” White acknowledged, but “our software simplifies the process.” Currently, 33 communities are utilizing Forerunner, according to the founders.

Early Successes and Potential Savings

The company has established customer bases in Louisiana and northern New Jersey, with its largest client being Harris County, Texas, encompassing much of the Houston metropolitan area. White estimates that improved adherence to federal standards could save the county $5 million in flood insurance premiums. “Our product can help you protect and enhance the immediate discount available to every flood insurance policyholder in your community starting next year,” he explained. However, he noted that FEMA primarily relies on penalties to enforce compliance. “The most significant leverage FEMA possesses is the ability to suspend communities from the flood insurance program.”

Growth and Development

Forerunner secured an initial seed funding round in 2019 and has focused on expanding the platform’s capabilities and establishing a robust sales process – a challenging undertaking within the govtech sector.

A Shift Towards Resilient Cities

Despite the ongoing demand for housing and economic growth, climate change is simultaneously imposing new constraints on urban areas. Mayors and city leaders will increasingly need to transition from traditional growth models to more resilient approaches for the future.